Futurist Mike Walsh said artificial intelligence agents may soon outnumber people and could handle routine purchases, describing a possible new role for software in daily commerce at the NDTV World Summit 2026, NDTV reported.
At the Oct. 23 summit in New Delhi, Walsh said AI agents might eventually exceed the human population. He also said India could become one of the most important markets for the technology, NDTV reported.
To illustrate how the shift could affect work, Walsh described a hypothetical young person in India weighing a computer science degree against using agents to launch a software company, according to NDTV. In his example, agents could help prepare a business plan, build a prototype and contact potential clients. The scenario was hypothetical, not a reported case.
NDTV also reported that Walsh outlined a possible personal AI ecosystem in which agents could make low-value payments for users without stopping for approval before each transaction. The spending question connects with earlier coverage of Walmart’s planned AI shopping gateway and purchase controls.
Walsh pointed to the electricity and water consumed by data centers, as well as jobs that AI could displace. He argued that easier access to knowledge and expertise could open new opportunities, NDTV reported. His remarks paired the potential for new business activity with concerns about resource use and employment.
Walsh’s website describes his work as focused on AI and digital labor and lists a forthcoming book about autonomous digital agents.
